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September 08, 2013

Ten Paces

I got the old song Ten Paces on my mind the other day. As I was humming along with the song in my head, I wondered if I'd ever shared our version of the song here on the Blind Pig. A quick check of the archives told me I hadn't-and a quick google for the song left me wondering who in the world sung it but us?

Every time I searched for information about the song, I either found Pap and Paul or a pop song with a similar name. I searched in connection with Marty Robbins-since it seems like a cowboy song he would sing. Came up with nothing on that score too. I finally decided maybe Paul wrote it.

A few emails later Paul assured me he didn't write it even though he wished he could lay calim to it. He said they learned it from Reno and Smiley and he always figured Don Reno wrote the song.

I searched for Ten Paces in connection with Reno and Smiley and managed to discover Gertrude Doro penned the song. But that information, and the fact that Reno and Smiley released the song, were the only historical details I could find about the song.

The song is a real toe-tapper. It tells the story of a man stealing his best friend's sweetheart and then having to take the dreaded ten pace walk that happens before both men draw their guns to fight for the girl. The story grabs your attention and squeezes your heart once he kills his best friend and loses the girl all at once. My favorite part of the song is Paul's amazing flat top picking.

(*Before you watch the video you need to stop the music player-the music controls are along the top of this page on the far left side-just under the Blind Pig logo. Click the center round button to stop the player.) *For those of you who have trouble viewing the video-go straight to youtube to see it by clicking here. In this video: Pap and Paul are on camera, with me off camera beating along on the bass.

I hope you enjoyed the song-and if you know any historical details about it please share them.

It had been so long since I'd heard "Ten Paces" that I had almost forgotten the song. Very fine job by Paul and Pap! And thanks to Ed Ammons for the lesson about the author of the song. It's good (but sad) to know this information. And yes! Eva Nell and I had a wonderful time on Saturday reading at the Byron Herbert Reece Farm and Heritage Center with the NC writers whose leader Shirley Cole kindly included us! A beautiful weekend!

Wonderful music as usual. I always dreamed of having a family that made music together - you are all so blessed! - and I am so envious!

As is the case most of the time, your post set me to wondering: why was it always "10 paces"? - or was it always "10 paces"? - does the reason folks sometimes "count to 10" when they get angry have some connection to dueling? - if so, when and why did the phrase get extended to "count to 10 and do it again"? Seems reasonable to think you couldn't "do it again" after a duel!)

Paul knows how to bend those strings, and I enjoy their harmonizing. It's hard for me to hear the bass. Must have a little hearing damage from days gone by. Due to the company you keep, that bass must sound good.

Arthur Lee “Red” Smiley Jr. of Reno and Smiley, in case I haven’t told you before, was my 1st cousin 2X removed. In layman’s terms his grandfather was my great great grandfather. My grandmother Cunningham and he were first cousins. Daddy was proud to be “kin” to “Red” and would listen to him on the radio all the time. Me, being a rebellious teenager, refused to listen to all that hokey music my parents loved. What fools we mortals be, especially the one I refer to as me.
Red’s whole adult life was a struggle. He was severely wounded in Sicily in WWII and lost one of his lungs. It took two years at Walter Reed Hospital before he recovered enough to go back to his beloved music, now with only one lung. Red struggled as a musician, not for lack of abilities but because of his disabilities. He died in 1974 from complications of diabetes and is buried in DeHart Cemetery in Swain County. His tombstone has on it guitar and a record. If you happen to be traveling east on US 19-74, take the Alarka Road exit and turn left back across the overpass. At the stop sign go straight across the highway and the railroad track then turn right. The cemetery is on the side of the hill there. Red’s stone stands proud there as his life surely should and would have had not his country called.
Tipper-One day when you are taking Pap over to Asheville for a checkup or something, you ought to stop by there and have a look. You and he might enjoy seeing it.

Tipper,
Hadn't heard that one before, but
I liked it! I always said Paul is
the best guitar picker I ever heard. And Pap's harmony and your bass made it wonderful. You all
have that Special Sound that we all
enjoy so much, thank you...Ken

Tipper,
Paul, Pap and everyone! I loved the spiffy song this mornin. Did the upbeat music help the writer through a sad song?
You know everyone has to take ten paces in there own way. It's just the reason and timing of the walk and how fast you turn. I do my best to avoid ten paces. One reason is 'cause I am a terrible shot and couldn't shoot a person unless I absolutely had to. I'd be playin' "hidey-hide", hiding in a closet and callin' 911...LOL
Thanks for the morning music Tipper,
PS.....How's the "greens" garden goin'....We haven't planted and I know it's gettin late, may have to slip over the mountain. I know a place in Brasstown that generally has a good crop...!!

I'd never heard this song before. It's a powerful reminder on the price paid by allowing pride to lead a person. In the beginning of the song comes a mention of the friend slapping the singer in the face with a glove. That act led to many duels back in history, didn't it! Thanks for sharing the Blind Pig rendition. Once again your family did a fine job.

Tipper: The fellows sound mighty good on a beautiful Sunday morning. They just ought to go over to the OLD COURT HOUSE in Blairsville for a Friday night show. We were there this past Friday evening. The group was so good Jim bought their last two CDs and we listened to them all the way back to Oak Ridge.

Yesterday Ethelene and I had a wonderful 'Poetry Reading' at the BHReese Center with a group of poets from Franklin, NC. Their fantastic 'leader' treated us like royalty and it was truly an unforgettable experience for me.

I will be back in Blairsvile this coming WED (09-11-13)for an introduction of "Fiddler" to the writers group. WISH YOU COULD MAKE IT!

I don't think I've heard this one before, but very well done.. and yall need to keep a fire extinguisher close by because one day Paul's guitar is gonna catch on fire.. he's burning them strings up.. ;)